cc.vixen03-第53节

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　He　replaced　the　binoculars　on　the　bridge　counter　and　turned　his　attention　once　again　to　the　radio。　He　held　the　headset　to　one　ear　and　pressed　the　microphone　button。
　〃Black　Angus　One　calling　Black　Angus　Two。　Over。〃
　A　slurred；　unmistakably　Southern　drawl　answered　almost　im…mediately。　〃Hey　man；　we　don't　need　all　that　coded　jive。　You're　in'　in　cool　as　a　White　Christmas。〃
　〃I'd　appreciate　economy　of　speech；〃　snapped　Fawkes。
　〃As　long　as　the　bread　I　signed　for　is　good；　you're　the　boss；　boss。〃
　〃Ready；target　range？〃
　〃Yeah；　movin'　into　position　now。〃
　I　　　　　〃Good。〃　Fawkes　glanced　at　his　watch。　〃Five　minutes　and　ten　seconds　I　till　Hogmanay。〃
　〃Hog　。　。　。　what？〃
　〃Scots　for　a　smashing　New　Year's　Eve。〃
　Fawkes　clicked　off　the　mike　and　noted　thankfully　that　the　NUMA　helicopter　had　continued　on　its　leisurely　course　toward　Washington　and　disappeared　beyond　the　bluffs　upriver。
　At　almost　the　same　instant；　Steiger　altered　the　controls　and　banked　the　Minerva　M…88　helicopter　in　a　wide；　sweeping　turn　over　the　Maryland　countryside。　He　kept　low；　shaving　the　tops　of　the　leafless　trees；　dodging　an　occasional　water　tower；　grimacing　at　the　words　that　came　over　his　earphones。
　〃They're　beginning　to　get　nasty；〃　he　said　casually。　〃General　Somebody…or…other　claims　he's　going　to　shoot　us　down　if　we　don't　get　the　hell　out　of　the　area。〃
　〃Acknowledge；〃　said　Pitt。　〃And　tell　him　you're　plying。〃
　〃Who　should　I　say　we　are？〃
　Pitt　thought　a　moment。　〃Tell　him　the　truth。　We're　a　NUMA　copter　on　special　assignment。〃
　Steiger　shrugged　and　began　talking　into　his　microphone。
　〃Old　General　Whosit　bought　it；〃　said　Steiger。　He　angled　his　head　toward　Pitt。　〃You'd　better　get　ready。　I　judge　it　about　eight　minutes　to　the　drop。〃
　Pitt　unclasped　his　seat　belt　and　waited　until　Sandecker　did　the　same；　then　moved　into　the　helicopter's　small　cargo　partment。　〃Do　it　right　the　first　time；〃　Pitt　said　into　Steiger's　ear；　〃or　you'll　make　an　ugly　red　mess　on　the　side　of　the　Iowa。〃
　〃You're　looking　at　a　neatness　nut；〃　Steiger　said　with　a　diluted　smile。　〃All　you　have　to　do　is　hang　tight　and　leave　the　driving　to　old　Abe。　If　you　have　to　drop　early；　I'll　make　damn　sure　you've　got　a　nice　cushion　of　deep　water　under　your　ass。〃
　〃I'm　counting　on　it。〃
　〃We'll　e　around　and　swing　in　from　the　west　to　cloak　our　outline　against　whatever　darkness　is　left。〃　Steiger's　eyes　never　strayed　from　the　windshield。　〃I'm　flicking　off　the　navigation　lights　now。　Good　luck！〃
　Pitt　squeezed　Steiger's　arm；　stepped　into　the　cargo　section　of　the　Minerva；　and　closed　the　cockpit　door。　The　partment　was　ice　cold。　The　loading　hatch　was　open　and　the　wintry　morning　air　whistled　into　what　seemed　a　vibratinaluminum　tomb。　Sandecker　held　the　harness　out　to　him　and　he　strapped　it　on。
　The　admiral　started　to　say　something　and　then　hesitated。　At　last；　his　cast…iron　features　taut　with　suppressed　emotion；　he　said；　〃I'll　expect　you　for　breakfast。〃
　〃Make　my　eggs　scrambled；〃　Pitt　said。
　Then　he　stepped　into　the　frigid　dawn。
　Lieutenant　Alan　Fergus；　leader　of　the　SEAL　bat　units；　zipped　up　his　wet　suit　and　cursed　the　vagaries　of　the　high　mand。　Not　more　than　an　hour　ago　he'd　been　rudely　awakened　from　a　dead　sleep　and　hurriedly　briefed　on　what　he　regarded　as　the　dumbest　exercise　ever　to　e　his　way　during　seven　years　in　the　Navy。　He　pulled　on　his　rubber　hood　and　tucked　his　ears　under　the　lining。　Then　he　approached　a　tall；　burly　man　who　sat　slouched　in　a　nonregulation　director's　chair。　His　feet　were　propped　on　the　bridge　railing　and　he　peered　intently　down　the　Potomac。
　〃What's　it　all　about？〃　asked　Fergus。
　Lieutenant　mander　Oscar　Kiebel；　the　dour　skipper　of　the　Coast　Guard　patrol　boat　that　was　ferrying　Fergus　and　his　men；　twisted　the　corners　of　his　mouth　in　an　expression　of　distaste　and　shrugged。　〃I'm　as　confused　as　you。〃
　〃Do　you　believe　that　bullshit　about　a　battleship？〃
　〃No；〃　Kiebel　said　in　a　rumbling　voice。　〃I've　seen　four…thousand…ton　destroyers　cruise　upriver　to　the　Washington　Navy　Yard；　but　a　fifty…thousand…ton　battleship？　No　way。〃
　〃Board　and　secure　the　stern　for　Marine　helicopter…assault　teams；〃　Fergus　said　irritably。　〃Those　orders　are　sheer　crap；　if　you　want　my　opinion。〃
　〃I'm　not　any　happier　about　this　outing　than　you；〃　said　Kiebel。　〃I　take　my　picnics　as　they　e。〃　He　grinned。　〃Maybe　it's　a　surprise　party　with　booze　and　wild　women。〃
　〃At　seven　o'clock　in　the　morning；　neither　holds　much　interest。　Not　out　in　the　open；　at　any　rate。〃
　〃We'll　know　soon。　Two　more　miles　till　we　round　Sheridan　Point。　Then　our　objectives　should　be　within　…　〃　Suddenly　Kiebel　broke　off　and　cocked　his　head；　listening。　〃You　hear　that？〃
　Fergus　cupped　his　ears　and　turned；　facing　the　patrol　boat's　wake。　〃Sounds　like　a　helicopter。〃
　〃ing　like　a　bat　out　of　hell　without　lights；〃　Kiebel　added。
　〃My　God！〃　Fergus　exclaimed。　〃The　Marines　have　jumped　the　gun。　They're　going　in　ahead　of　schedule。〃
　An　instant　later　every　head　on　the　patrol　boat　turned　upward　as　a　helicopter　roared　past　at　two　hundred　feet；　a　dim　shadow　against　a　gray　sky。　All　were　so　engrossed　in　the　mysterious；　darkened　craft　they　didn't　notice　the　vague　shape　trailing　below　and　slightly　to　the　rear　of　the　copter　until　it　swept　over　the　decks　and　carried　away　the　radio　antennae。
　〃What　in　hell　was　that？〃　blurted　Kiebel　in　genuine　astonishment。
　Pitt　would　have　been　only　too　glad　to　supply　the　answer　if　he'd　had　the　time。　Strapped　in　the　harness；　dangling　under　the　NUMA　helicopter　only　thirty　feet　above　the　river；　he　barely　managed　to　extend　his　legs　forward　as　he　crashed　into　the　patrol　boat's　antennae。　His　feet　took　most　of　the　shock；　and　foftunately…　damned　fortunately；　he　thought　later…　none　of　the　wiring　had　entangled　his　body；　sectioning　him　like　a　lettuce　slicer。　As　it　was；　he　would　carry　a　nice　welt　across　his　buttocks　where　a　piece　of　thin　tubing　had　made　brief　contact。
　
　The　rising　sun　cooperated　by　hiding　behind　a　low　range　of　dark　clouds；　its　filtered　light　obscuring　any　detail　of　the　surrounding　countryside。　The　air　was　keen；　barbed　with　the　energy　of　its　chill；　a　polar　frigidity　that　stabbed　through　Pitt's　heavy　clothing。　His　eyes　were　watering　like　faucets　and　his　cheeks　and　forehead　smarted　with　the　intensity　of　over…loaded　pincushions。
　Pitt　was　on　a　ride　no　amusement　park　in　the　country　could　equal。　The　Potomac　was　a　blur　as　he　soared　over　its　lazy　current　at　nearly　two　hundred　miles　an　hour。　Trees　edging　the　banks　hurtled　by　like　cars　on　a　Los　Angeles　freeway。　He　looked　skyward　and　made　out　a　small　pale　oval　against　the　black　doorway　of　the　helicopter　and　recognized　it　as　the　anxious　face　of　Admiral　Sandecker。
　He　felt　a　sideways　motion　as　Steiger　banked　the　craft　around　a　wide　bend　in　the　river。　The　long　umbilical　cable　that　held　him　to　a　winch　in　the　cargo　partment　arched　in　the　opposite　direction；　swinging　him　out…ward；　like　the　end　child　in　a　playground　game　of　crack　the　whip。　The　momentum　twisted　him　sideways　and　he　found　himself　looking　at　the　grounds　of　Mount　Vernon。　Then　the　cable　straightened　and　the　huge　mass　of　the　Iowa　swung　into　view；　her　forward　guns　trained　ominously　upstream。
　Overhead；　Steiger　eased　back　on　the　throttle　and　slowed　the　flight　of　the　helicopter。　Pitt　felt　the　harness　straps　pressing　into　his　chest　at　the　deceleration　and　braced　himself　for　the　drop。　The　superstructure　of　the　ship　filled　up　the　windshield　in　front　of　the　control　cabin　when　Steiger　gently　eased　the　helicopter　into　a　hovering　position　above　the　starboard　side　of　the　ship；　behind　the　main　bridge。
　〃Too　fast！　Too　fast！〃　Steiger　muttered　over　and　over；　fearful　that　Pitt　would　be　swinging　ahead　of　the　hovering　helicopter　like　a　weight　on　the　bottom　of　a　pendulum。
　Steiger's　fears　were　justified。　Pitt　was　indeed　pitching　forward　on　an　uncontrollable　course；　high　above　the　main　deck；　where　he'd　planned　to　land。　Narrowly　missing　an　empty　five…inch…gun　turret；　he　came　to　the　end　of　his　arc。　It　was　now　or　never。　He　made　his　decision　and　hit　the　quick…release　buckle　and　dropped　clear　of　the　harness。
　From　the　doorway　of　the　helicopter　Sandecker's　eyes　strained　in　the　early…morning　gloom；　his　insides　knotted；　his　breath　halted；　as　Pitt's　huddled　figure　fell　behind　the　forward　superstructure　and　vanished。　Then　the　Iowa　was　gone；　too；　as　Steiger　snapped　the　helicopter　into　a　steep　angle；　the　rotor　blades　biting　the　air；　dipping　over　the　forested　shore　and　out　of　sight。　As　soon　as　the　craft　leveled；　Sandecker　released　his　safety　strap　and　made　his　way　back　into　the　cockpit。
　〃Is　he　away？〃　Steiger　asked　anxiously。
　〃Yes；　he's　down；〃　answered　Sandecker。
　〃In　one　piece？〃
　〃We　can　but　hope；〃　Sandecker　said；　so　quietly　that　Steiger　hardly　heard　him　above　the　roar　of　the　engine。　〃That's　all　any　of　us　has　left。〃
　
　59
　
　Fawkes　was　not　overly　concerned　with　the　helicopter　so　long　as　it　continued　on　its　way。　He　did　not　see　a　human　form　drop　out　of　the　twilight；　as　his　attention　was　directed　to　the　boat　that　was　approaching　downriver　at　high　speed。　There　was　no　doubt　in　his　mind　that　it　was　a　weling　mittee；　courtesy　of　the　United　States　government。　He　spoke　into　a　microphone。
　〃Mr。　Shaba。〃
　〃Sir？〃　Shaba's　voice　crackled　back。
　〃Please　see　to　it　the　machine…gun　crews　man　their　stations　and　prepare　to　repel　boar